Inspiration June 2010

“Amateurs look for inspiration; the rest of us just get up and go to work.”
(Chuck Close)

Where do you find your inspiration? You have probably been asked this question a number of times. As far as I am concerned, I have no need to ask myself what inspires me. Thus when asked, I never really know what to say and choose an easy cliché response such as; nature inspires me.

To many it seems an artist somehow gets suddenly an insight, a revelation and is then driven to express him or herself visually. Inspiration is connected with a romantic notion of a magical creative élan. Sounds nice, but I do not believe it.

If one cultivates an appreciation and an enthusiasm for the world and life, if one really sees, then every moment is filled with inspiration. On those days and we all have experienced them, when I don’t feel motivated to paint anything, I just start a painting anyway and usually something happens. Inspiration finds you!